Basket for distillation of wood, &amp;c.



No. 799,795. PATBNTBD SEPT. 19, 1995.

J. A. MATHIEU. BASKET TOR DISTILLATION 0T Woo1 ,&0,

APPLICATION FILED APR. 27.1904. l

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JEAN A. MATHIEU, OF GEOEGETOWN, SOUTH CAROLINA.

BASKET FOR DIS-TILLATION OF WOOD, &O.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented sept. 19, 1905.

Application filed April 27, 1904. Serial No. 205,119.

-adapted for use in connection with processes for the destructive distillation of wood and like substances.

A basket constructed in accordance with my invention is capable of being filled with the material which is to be subjected to distillation and when so filled inserted within a retort which during the distillation process is closed over the basket. At the end of distillation the basket, with its charcoal contents, is then capable of being removed (preferably protected by a cover whereby undue consumption of the charcoal is prevented) and allowed to cool, discharged of its contents, refilled, and again inserted in a retort.

In an application filed by me on the 12th day of October, 1903, bearing Serial No. 176,675, I have describedand claimed an organized apparatus for the distillation of wood in connection with which my basket may be used. Such apparatusI have not either de? scribed or shown in the present application except that I have illustrated the form of retort to fit which the basket is especially adapted.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure I is a central vertical section through a basket or container embodying my invention. It is shown as resting within a retort, the lid of which is removed. Fig. II is a plan view of the basket. Figs. III and IV are detail views of small parts which will be specially referred to in the description. Fig. V is a detail view of an alternative construction for discharging the basket.

l is the retort, cylindrical in form, adapted to be fitted with a tight lid (not shown) and provided centrally at the bottom with an aperture for the discharge of the liquid or tarry products of distillation.

2 is the basket. It is of corresponding cylindrical form and made entirely of metal parts riveted or bolted together. The side of the basket is formed of horizontal rings or hoops .3, spaced at appropriate intervals, and vertical strips 4, likewise spaced at appropriate interval-s. The hoops 3 surround the vertical strips 4 and at their points of crossing are attachedV thereto by rivets or bolts, as shown at 24 in the drawings. The bottom of the basket consists of a dished plate or disk 5, solid eX- cept for a central aperture, capable of registering with the discharge-aperture in the bottom of the retort. For the purpose of insuring and perfecting this registration the aperture in the bottom of the basket is fitted with a surrounding iiange-piece 6, capable of entering a short distance linto the aperture in the bottom of the retort. The vertical strips 4 are secured at their lower ends around the periphery of the bottom plate,as indicated in thedrawings. The top of the basket is open, the rim being formed by the uppermost hoop 7.

On opposite sides of the basket are two vertical strips 8 8, which are preferably somewhat broader and stronger than the others 4. The upper ends of these two strips are turned inwardly, and between them is supported a stout T-iron l0, to the top of which the turnedover ends of these strips are attached. This horizontal T-iron constitutes the handle of the basket. It has attached to its top centrally a special plate 9, provided with an undercut knob 11 in the shape of a rectangular wedge, as shown in Fig. III of the drawings.

The purpose of this undercut knob is to af' ford a convenient point of attachment for a draft-clutch 12, depending from the arm of a crane or derrick, which' is capable of automatically attaching itself to the knob when lowered upon it. For the strengthening of the cross-piece l0 two diagonal braces 13 13 are provided, the upper ends of which are attached to the central web of the T-iron and the lower ends of which (the braces during their descent taking a half-turn) are attached to the sides of the vertical strips 8 8. Upon the outer sides of the two strips 8 8 are attached trun'nion-plates 14, provid ed with trunnions l5, preferably placed somewhat below the center of the basket. They are useful for the purpose of discharging the basket, for which .purpose supporting-bearings are provided on which whenA the basket rests it may be inverted in order to discharge its contents.

I have indicated in Fig. V an alternative construction which may be employed in place of trunnions. In this construction the strips 8 8 are reinforced by the plates 20 and both IIO pierced by apertures 21, which occupy approXimately-the position in the basket which in Fig. I is occupied by the trunnions. Vith this arrangement instead of bearings a pair of hooks 22 are provided, of which one is shown in Fig. V, and upon these hooks which enter the apertures in the side the basket rests when it is to be inverted.

For the strengthening of the basket diagonal braces 16 16 may be attached to the side of the basket, as indicated in the drawings.

17 17 are metal eyes secured at intervals to the outside of one oi' the upper hoops 3. These are useful as points of attachment for chains, which may be employed while the basket with its contents of charcoal is being carried to or manipulated at the dumpingplace.

The details of construction may be varied. It is not essential that the strips forming the sides of the baskets be arranged as I have illustrated them. They may interlace diagonally instead of at right angles, or the entire side of the basket may be formed ot' a perforated sheet, it being only important that the structure of the side be such as to elfectually retain the substances to be subject to distillation while allowing free access of the heat to the retort.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. A transportation-basket for charging and discharging a distillation-retort, of substantially cylindrical form, provided with a solid bottom, perforated or open-work sides, and open at the top, substantially as described.

2. A transportation-basket for charging and discharging a distillation-retort, of substantially cylindrical form, provided with a solid bottom, perforated or open-work sides, and open at the top; with a horizontal cross-piece between the sides at the top, whereby the manipulation of the basket may be effected, substantially as described.

3. A transportation-basket for charging and discharging a distillation-retort, of substantially cylindrical form, having' openwork sides; with vertical strengthening-strips on opposite sides and united at their top by a horizontal cross-piece, substantially as described.

4. A cylindrical transportation-basket for charging and discharging a distillation-retort, formed with open-work or perforated sides, and having its bottom formed of a solid dished circular metal plate with a central aperture for discharging the liquid contents during distillation, substantially as described.

5. A transportation-basket for charging and discharging a distillation-retort,of cylindrical form, open at the top, having its sides Formed by horizontal and vertical strips; with a crosspiece at the top united to the basket by horizontal strengthening-strips which pass down opposite sides of the basket, substantially as described.

6. Atransportation-basket for charging and discharging a distillation-retort,of cylindrical form, open at the top, and having its sides formed of metal strips; together with a Strengthening cross-piece passing across the open top, and a knob attached to said crosspiece to which the transportation apparatus may be attached, substantially as described.

7. A transportation-basket for charging and discharging a distillation-retort, of substantially cylindrical form, provided with a solid bottom, perforated or open-work sides, and open at the top, with a horizontal cross-piece extending from side to side at the top, which is provided with an undercut knob for the automatic attachment of a draft-clutch, substantially as described.

8. A transportation-basket for charging and discharging a distillation-retort having an open top, with a horizontal cross-piece, together with diagonal braces attached to the cross-piece and passing to the sides of the basket, substantially as described.

9. A transportation-basket for charging and discharging a distillation-retort, having a cross-piece at the top of T-shaped cross-section, with diagonal strengthening-pieces, attached at their upper ends to the web of the cross-piece, and at their lower ends (after making a quarter-turn) to the sides ot' the'basket, substantially as described.

10. A transportation-basket for charging and discharging a distillation-retort, of substantially cylindrical form, the sides whereof are formed by vertical strips and horizontal hoops attached at their points of crossing, with diagonal strengthening-strips attached at intervals to said vertical and horizontal parts, substantially as described.

l1. A transportation-basket for charging and discharging a distillationretort, provided with rotation-supports on opposite sides, and eyes for the attachment of manipulationchains, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name, at Georgetown, in the State of South Carolina, this 25th day of April, 1904.

JEAN A. MATHIEU.

Witnesses:

WALTER HAZARD, T. J. FLIPPIN.

IOO 

